English Quiz - Reading Comprehension

Directions (Q1 – Q15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Democracy was invented as a device for reconciling government with liberty. It is clear that government is necessary if anything worthy to be called civilization is to exist, but all history shows that any set of men entrusted with power over another set will abuse their power if they can do so with impunity. Democracy is intended to make men’s tenure of power temporary and dependent upon popular approval. Insofar as it achieves this it prevents the worst abuses of power. The Second Triumvirate in Rome, when they wanted money with a view to fighting Brutus and Cassius, made a list of rich men and declared them public enemies, cut off their heads, and seized their property. This sort of procedure is not possible in America and England at present. We owe the fact that it is not possible not only to democracy, but also to the doctrine of personal liberty. This doctrine, in practice, consists of two parts on the one hand that a man shall not be punished except by due process of law, and on the other hand that there shall be sphere within which a man’s actions are not to be subject to governmental control. This sphere includes free speech, free press and religious freedom. All these doctrines, of course, are held in practice with certain limitations. The British formerly did not adhere to them in their dealings with India. Freedom of the press is not respected in the case of doctrines which are thought dangerously subversive. Free speech would not be held to exonerate public advocacy of assassination of an unpopular politician. But in spite of these limitations the doctrine of personal liberty has been of great value throughout the English-speaking world, as anyone who lives in it will quickly realise when he finds himself in a Police State. Democracy should ensure dignity of the individual. It should also aim at the greatest good of the greatest number. The opposition party should oppose the wrong plans, policies and decisions of the government in power. The government should cater to the genuine needs of the people to make its position solid.

Q1. What is the government necessary?
1) To restrict the authority of a few over the rest
2) Because it is a prerequisite for the survival of civilisation
3) To bring the wayward to book
4) To keep a tab on libertarian tendencies
5) None of these

Q2. What do we expect from democracy?
1) The rule of a few be made conditional to the will of the majority
2) To evolve a rule of law
3) All rich and powerful men be annihilated
4) To work against the powerful sections of society
5) None of these

Q3. What did the Britishers not adhere to in their dealings with India?
1) The doctrine of the due process of law
2) The doctrine of non-interference of government in personal matters of people
3) The freedom of speech and religious practice
4) Both 1 and 2
5) None of these

Q4. Which of the following cannot be seen as a likely benefit of democracy, according to the passage?
1) Dignity of individual
2) Greatest good of the greatest number
3) Right to criticise the government
4) Elimination of unpopular leader
5) None of these

Q5. Which of the following is true in context of the passage?
1) Democracy is the greatest pillar of civilisation.
2) Democracy has been devised to subordinate personal liberty to communal liberty.
3) Democratic principles are practised with certain riders.
4) Democracy caters to the genuine expectations of the people even if at the cost of a few.
5) None of these

Q6. What is the implied meaning of “police state” in the passage?
1) The state or country which is ruled by police or military
2) The state which even resorts to wrong means in achieving welfare of the people
3) The state which permits no freedom of speech, press or religion
4) The state which permits no personal liberty to its citizens
5) None of these

Q7. In which of the following countries, in ancient times, the authorities used to physically liquidate the propertied persons to confiscate their riches?
1) India 
2) America 
3) Britain
4) Italy 
5) None of these

Q8. What message does the author want to convey through the passage?
1) Democracy is a bulwark against the authoritarian regimes.
2) Unrestricted liberty is the essence of a democratic set-up.
3) Personal liberty is an essential component of democracy. But it is not without certain limitations.
4) Police state and welfare state are not anti-thesis of each other.
5) None of these

Q9. Which of following, according to the passage, is not true?
1) In a democracy, certain actions of man are outside the purview of law.
2) Democracy keeps a tab on unrestricted control of government over the individual.
3) Our past experience is replete with the abuse of authority by those in power.
4) Personal liberty is not necessarily an alien concept for a police state.
5) None of these

Directions (Q10 – Q12): Choose the word which is the same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Q10. Subversive
1) destructive 
2) explosive 
3) destabilising
4) heinous 
5) malicious

Q11. Reconcile
1) harmonise 
2) balance 
3) recognise
4) rearrange 
5) recast

Q12. Doctrine
1) treatise 
2) principle 
3) theory
4) policy 
5) dogma

Directions (Q13 – Q15): Choose the word which is opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Q13. Exonerate
1) claim 
2) accuse 
3) revile
4) victimise 
5) forgive

Q14. Entrust
1) assign 
2) defrock 
3) discharge
4) entertain 
5) dispossess

Q15. Genuine
1) unreal 
2) subordinate 
3) sham
4) actual 
5) sincere

Answers:

Q1 – 2
Q2 – 1
Q3 – 4
Q4 – 4
Q5 – 3
Q6 –  4
Q7 – 4
Q8 – 3
Q9 – 4
Q10 – 3
Q11 – 1
Q12 – 2
Q13 – 2
Q14 – 5
Q15 – 1